South-West leaders and community groups have expressed their overwhelming support for the State Government's new container deposit scheme.
As part of the Containers for Change initiative, customers will receive a 10-cent refund for each eligible drink container donated.
The scheme has so far created more than 200 refund points and more than 600 jobs across Western Australia.
Many of the jobs have been filled by Indigenous residents, people with disabilities, and the long-term unemployed.
The government has confirmed that at least 229 refund points will be opened within the next 12 months.
More than 1000 community groups/organisations have already set up donation points, encouraging local residents to drop off their containers.
Environment Minister Stephen Dawson visited the Stanley Road Waste Management Facility, Cash for Cans Collie, and Return-It Bunbury last week for the announcement.
Mr Dawson said he and Premier Mark McGowan were thrilled to be delivering yet another 2017 election commitment.
"This scheme is great for the environment, but it is also good for the economy," he said.
"We have designed the scheme with a focus on creating jobs, and we're very happy that jobs are being created right across WA.
"It's also creating fundraising opportunities for local community groups across the state."
Bunbury MLA Don Punch said the scheme would go a long way towards reducing landfill in the South-West.
"[The scheme] is a great response to a major problem that we've had, which is containers being dumped or littered," he said.
"The direct beneficiaries will be the local community organisations and charities involved in the scheme."
The government has estimated the scheme will recycle an additional 6.6 billion containers over the next two decades.
Return-It chief executive Alby Taylor is encouraging all South-West residents and community groups to utilise their local refund points.
Visit containersforchange.com.au for more details about the scheme and refund point locations.
